VIRGIN BLUE SNAPS UP CHEAP 737S WITH BULK DEAL
Australia's Virgin Blue has taken advantage of the "attractive" pricing on offer because of the downturn and signed a deal with Boeing for up to 105 737s. The agreement covers 50 firm orders for the 737-800 that can be converted to either 737-700s or -900ERs, and includes 25 options plus 30 future purchase rights. Deliveries will be between June 2011 and 2017.
FAA MAY EASE ANTI-DEPRESSANT RESTRICTIONS
The US Federal Aviation Administration is considering a medical certificate for pilots taking medication for mild to moderate depression, conditions that now bar affected individuals from all flying duties. Aviation medical examiners and psychiatrists will help the FAA evaluate and monitor pilots under the new policy.
AIRBUS OUTPUT RISES DURING FIRST QUARTER
Airbus's first quarter deliveries rose by 5% year-on-year to 122 aircraft. Meanwhile, 60 new orders were secured. No cancellations have been recorded so far in 2010, unlike the first quarter of 2009 when a deficit of 14 aircraft dropped net orders by just eight.
OMAN MAY TAP UK EUROFIGHTER FLEET
Oman has moved closer to acquiring an unspecified number of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to replace its remaining Sepecat Jaguars in a bilateral deal with the UK. The UK, which has already sold 24 of its planned 232 Eurofighters to Saudi Arabia as part of a 72-aircraft acquisition, could supply Oman from its Tranche 3 commitment to the European programme.
BOMBARDIER: CSERIES FINANCE DISPUTE PROGRESS
Bombardier is confident a new Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development aircraft sector agreement will be reached this year to resolve disputes over classification of its CSeries twinjet. Airbus and Boeing allege its classification as a long-range regional jet gives it an export credit financing advantage over their mainline jets, but Bombardier Aerospace boss Guy Hachey says he expects a new classification to combine the two categories.
BA, IBERIA SIGN FORMAL MERGER AGREEMENT
British Airways and Iberia have signed their formal merger agreement, following the tentative pact forged last November. The merger, expected to be completed late this year, will create a new holding company, International Airlines Group, under which both carriers will retain their operations and brands.
CESSNA TO REPLACE CITATION X ELEVATOR CONTROL
Cessna is to replace the elevator controls on as many as 253 US-registered Citation X business jets if a proposed US Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive is approved, amending and interim 2006 AD issued after cracks were found on elevator inboard hinge brackets and hinges of an aircraft.
FIRST FALCON 9 LAUNCH ATTEMPT FROM 8 MAY
Space Exploration Technologies has scheduled the first Falcon 9 test flight from its Cape Canaveral launch site from 8 May, carrying an instrumented Dragon cargo and crew transport capsule. The flight had originally been planned for mid-2007.
Source: Flight International
